Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ADVENTURE ALLSORT HITS THE SWEET SPOT THE FACTS KONA GIVEN RECHARGE
Moto Guzzi V85TT
Some time ago, Moto Guzzi hired the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva for a day.
There were two reasons. Firstly, the LHC cost £6.9billion to build, so it needs all the money it can get. The second reason is that the chaps at Moto Guzzi wanted to create a middleweight adventure bike which combined the looks of its V7 Stornello with the ruggedness of the now discontinued Stelvio 1200, and they thought that if they put both side by side in the LHC and pressed the On button, the molecules of both would combine to create the perfect result.
Tragically, the LHC’S chief technician, Hans Zimmer, had a fatal weakness for Liquorice Allsorts and accidentally left a packet on the saddle of the V7.
As a result, when the LHC had come to the end of its spin cycle what was inside was half bike, half allsort.
Having worked out the only rational explanation for its colour scheme, it was time to ride it. Or possibly eat it.
The riding position of the V85TT is adventure bike perfection. It’s upright and neutral, with superb mirrors and an informative TFT screen which gave me all the info I needed, including which of the modes I was in – Street, Rain, Off-road, or the new ones Custom and Sport.
All deliver the same 79bhp, but vary the throttle response, ABS and traction control settings to suit. Progress is lusty enough for all but the most ardent hooligans, especially between 5,000 and 6,000rpm. Cruising at 80mph is comfortable behind the small but effective screen and, if you really insist, it’ll go on to 120mph.
The clutch and gearbox are noticeably lighter and slicker than on Guzzis of old, and the handling is beautifully light and neutral, dancing through bends with unflustered ease rather than point and shoot impatience. The chassis offers up the same plush, unflustered ride, with it only diving significantly on brutal application of the big twin discs on the front brake, and the range is a very useful 250 miles or so.
All in all, it’s a characterful and different choice to the usual suspects in the mid-range adventure bike category, not to mention the world’s fastest piece of confectionery. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve been overcome by an all-consuming desire to pick up a packet of Allsorts on my way home. Funny, that.
Engine: 853cc V-twin Power:
79bhp @ 7,750rpm
Torque: 59 lb ft @ 5,000rpm Colours:
Silver; blue; red; white/yellow/black/ red; sand/orange
Price: From £10,899
Hyundai has given its Kona electric a facelift three years into its life. When it was launched in 2018 it was a pioneer as the only fully electric compact crossover; now it has plenty of rivals so needed a spruce up.
What not many EVS can match, including pricier ones, is its range. There’s a choice of two battery sizes: a 39.2kw pack that gives a maximum of 189 miles, and a 64kwh one for up to 300 miles. The former comes with a 136PS motor, the latter a 204PS.
The facelift involves the usual styling tweaks of a new front grille, LED daylight running lights, headlamps and new rear bumper.
Prices from £30,125 for the 39.2kw and £35,225 for the 64kwh.